BUSRide April 2013

The most trusted resource in the bus and motorcoach industry, In our April 2013 cover story, Peter Pan Bus Lines turns 80.

New Flyer-AD
announce MiDi
Page 12
Special Section:
All-Electric Preview
Page 16
ElDorado National
talks Krystal Koach
Page 30
Cavallo caters to
European tours
Page 32
™
APR 2013
BUSRide
www.busride.com • $5.00
stays one step ahead
Page 22
March 2013
1
â&#x201E;˘
April 2013 cover story
The family business
turns 80
What Peter Pan Bus Lines is
doing to stay ahead of the curve
By David Hubbard
page 22
20 VIA adds three EcoRides to fleet
The Proterra-made battery-electric bus fleet
began service in late February
30 Krystal Koach is top of the line
ElDorado National Kansas fine tunes
its new luxury flagship
By David Hubbard
32 The only choice in the central U.S.
Cavallo Bus Lines safety and service attracts an
international tour market
By Richard Tackett
8 Update
10 Deliveries
11 People in the News
33 Marketplace
Special Section:
ALL ELECTRIC PREVIEW
16 All-Electric Preview
Transit for the future under development
with North American bus builders
By Richard Tackett
18 Ecoliners seamlessly integrate
for full service
4
April 2013
Foothill Transit sees great success from
its zero-emission buses
By Richard Tackett
6 David Hubbard
12 The International Report
By Doug Jack
By Matthew A. Daecher
27 Risk Management
BUSRide
BUSRide
March 2013
5
david hubbard
The BRT Standard sets
the bar for quality
Almost everyone in the transit industry has a concept of bus rapid
transit (BRT), some with a more vague idea than others. According
to recent studies conducted through funding from the Rockefeller
Foundation, a great number of people remain unenlightened to the
chief characteristics of BRT, or that commuter coaches are fully
capable of providing quality transit service.
For that reason, BUSRide will be giving this intriguing industry
segment a thorough investigation in coming issues. Much of the content will emanate from recent important research that identifies and
establishes standards and best practices for BRT systems in use and
under development.
As of now, a BRT Standard is in place to help create and measure
efficiency and sustainability and passenger comfort in systems of
every size.
Undertaken in 2011 by the Institute for Transportation and
Development Policy (ITDP), New York, NY, and introduced as a pilot
program last year, the BRT Standard Committee established standards for the public transit community and transportation professionals to design, build and implement top-quality systems.
The purpose of the BRT Standard is to create a singular international definition of best practices. It certifies their efforts as Gold,
Silver or Bronze based on results of the BRT Standard Scorecard.
The new Standard will be helpful in recognizing and comparing
current systems in terms of quality. The standard will help decision
makers evaluate how close their vision comes to international best
practices and show where certain changes could improve the system.
The scorecard awards points only for elements of system design
that generally improve operational performance and quality of service, or at least minimize adverse environmental impacts of the traffic
system.
ITDP says the BRT Standard weighs all systems according to
the same criteria. It does not differentiate between high, medium and
low-demand BRT systems. It applies easily and equitably to a wide
range of operations.
The measures included in the BRT Standard will usually tend to
improve performance in corridors designed properly for the ridership. The standard also assigns penalty points for systems in service
already in service that still do not meet certain baseline criteria. The
standard suggests poorly designed BRT systems or corridors create
the risk of only worsening congestion.
The BRT Standard intends to complement and not replace
cost-effectiveness measurements, cost-benefit appraisal tools and
system-performance evaluations.
BUSRide
™
Publisher / Editor in Chief
Steve Kane
steve@busride.com
Associate Publisher
Sali Williams
swilliams@busride.com
Editor
David Hubbard
david@busride.com
Managing Editor
Richard Tackett
rtackett@busride.com
Account Executives
Maria Galioto
mgalioto@busride.com
Andy Pieri
apieri@busride.com
Production Director
Valerie Valtierra
valerie@busride.com
Art Director
Dominic Salerno
dsalerno@busride.com
Contributing Writers
Doug Jack, Matthew A. Daecher,
Christopher Ferrone
BUS industry SAFETY council
Vice President
Operations
Valerie Valtierra
Accountant
Fred Valdez
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Vol. 49 No. 4
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www.BRTstandard.org BR
6
April 2013
BUSRide
update
A record and a first for Nova Bus
ATUQ orders 475 LFS HEVs
Nova Bus, St-Eustache, QB, Canada,
a subsidiary of the Volvo Group North
America, has set a record and first in short
order. An order for 475 LSF HEV hybrid
buses from ATUQ, a consortium consisting
of nine Quebec transit authorities, marks the
Volvo Group’s largest order ever signed for
hybrid vehicles. ATUQ is a longtime Nova
Bus customer in a partnership stretching
back to the 1970s. Deliveries will begin 1Q
2014 with an option for approximately 1,200
vehicles.
“This order underlines the strong relationship ATUQ and Nova Bus have developed over the years,” says Nova Bus
President Jean-Pierre Baracat. “ATUQ has
renewed its confidence in our company and
vehicles once again, and we are glad to
continue to work together to further enhance
transit services in our communities.”
ATUQ signs for 475 of the Nova LFS HEVs.
Clemson Area transit gets first articulated bus
Clemson Area Transit (CAT), Kingstree, SC, another trusted
Nova Bus partner, recently acquired its first articulated bus. CAT
dubbed its LFS Artic the “bendy bus” because of its center articulation that allows the bus to corner tightly and handle city streets as
easily as a regular bus.
“We double the capacity and only use one bus to accomplish
as much transportation,” says CAT General Manager Al Babinicz.
“The ‘bendy bus’ technology eventually could help solve transportation problems throughout South Carolina.”
Nova Bus says the high-capacity vehicle offers the industry’s
largest center aisle. It is also equipped with Nova Bus’ proprietary
electric engine cooling system.
New Wave Fabrics
from LaFrance Industries
Made in USA
Fresh Green
Raspberry Purple
Many new patterns and colors available
LaFrance Industries
Joe Brinkmeyer 513-871-5954 • 513-702-3612 (Cell)
joe.brinkmeyer@brinkmeyer.com
8
April 2013
Clemson Area Transit tries on the “Bendy Bus.”
Gray Line Worldwide selects AirBridge
Tours as Las Vegas licensee
Gray Line Worldwide, an international sightseeing and tour company
operating city tours and transportation
in over 700 destinations, has selected Las
Vegas-based AirBridge Tours as its new Gray Line
Las Vegas licensee. AirBridge Tours specializes in airport transportation and first class sightseeing tours to the Grand Canyon, Hoover
Dam, Lake Mead and surrounding sites in the desert Southwest.
The newly named Gray Line Las Vegas also entered into a sublicensing agreement with Bell Trans, a premier operator of airport
transfer and private charter lines and now branded with the Gray Line
logo.
AirBridge Tours CEO Daniel Nisley says the Gray Line appointment and Bell Trans sub-licensing is part of his company’s transition
from a domestic day trip company into a top-tier international travel
and tourism provider.
“Gray Line Worldwide is the most recognizable name and brand
in sightseeing tourism around the globe,” Nisley says. “Passengers
enjoy a level of comfort and security when booking with Gray Line,
and we are proud to align our exceptional customer service with the
prestigious brand. Having the Bell Trans vehicles bear the Gray Line
Las Vegas logo will also remind airport travelers of the excellent day
trip opportunities available to them in Southern Nevada.”
BUSRide
BRief
DesignLine Corporation, Charlotte, NC,
announced in February the completion of all phases of the federally-required Altoona testing on its 45-foot CNG
EcoCoach. The vehicle is currently running in revenue service on
NJ TRANSIT routes. The agency has given DesignLine the go
ahead to manufacture 76 buses as contracted. DesignLine says
the EcoCoach is the first Altoona-tested 45-foot CNG coach to
reach the market.
Innovations, creators of Balance
BRief Sun-Tech
Masters, a self-adjusting wheel-balancing system,
has been awarded a new five-year contract by the U.S. General
Services Administration (GSA) to maintain vehicles owned by the
Department of Defense and other government agencies. SunTech Innovations has been manufacturing Balance Masters active
balancing devices for more than 33 years.
BRief
DriveCam, Inc., a driver risk management company, this week announced that Greyhound Lines,
Inc. will deploy DriveCamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s driver risk management and fleet
management solution across its fleet for a five-year service contract term. Greyhound trialed the DriveCam program in its BoltBus
fleet, and based on its success, the company decided to deploy
DriveCam across the entire Greyhound fleet.
BRief
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) has ordered Atlanta-based Top Class
Bus Company, LLC, to immediately cease all passenger transportation services for disregarding federal safety regulations and
putting the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own drivers, passengers, and the motoring
public at risk. The order prohibits Top Class Bus Company from
any type of commercial passenger service and it blocks the unapproved use of its buses by another company or any driver.
BUSRide
New Prevost Service Center opens in Houston
Prevost, Sainte-Claire, QC, Canada, recently opened a new
service center in Houston, TX. The 5,400 square-foot facility provides a service area with two drive-through bays. The address is
10155 Windfern Road, Houston, TX, 77064.
Staffed with fully certified Prevost technicians, the new facility
is equipped for bumper-to-bumper maintenance and repair for all
Prevost and Volvo Bus coaches, as well as Nova Bus transit vehicles and Volvo engines and transmissions. Carl Boulet serves as
branch manager and Theodore Bruning is the service manager.
Houston Service Center is equipped with electrical hookups
and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.
April 2013
9
deliveries
ABC COMPANIES /VAN HOOL
add
4
add
Harrison Global
Waltham, MA
Harrison Global added four motorcoaches for their Cary,
North Carolina, location. The acquisition included two Van
Hool C204s and two of ABC’s M1235 mid-sized coaches. The
C204s are powered by Detroit DD13 engines coupled to Allison
B500 Gen IV transmissions. They’re equipped with Alcoa Dura
Bright wheels, ASA Wi-Fi, 110 volt outlets, satellite TV, woodgrain flooring, and Van Hool’s unique rear passenger window.
The M1235s also have an REI deluxe entertainment system,
and 3-point seat belts. Harrison Global was founded by brothers David and Derek Marcou in 1986.
6
Tremblay’s Bus Company
New Bedford, MA
Founded in 1967 by Leo and the late Claire Tremblay
with a single station wagon, Tremblay’s began as an effort
to serve factory workers in Southeastern Massachusetts.
In Februarythe company acquired six Van Hool C2045 VIP
coaches. The coaches feature enclosed Microleather covered
parcel racks, woodgrain flooring, Alcoa Dura Bright aluminum
wheels, 110 volt outlets and REI’s deluxe entertainment system. The 57-passenger seats are equipped with 3-point seat
belts and the coaches have backup cameras and Van Hool’s
unique rear passenger window.
.
MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES
add
9
Arrow Stage Lines
Omaha, NB
Arrow Stage Lines serves all travel requests with a mixedfleet of high quality coaches. Recent additions include six MCI
J4500s, two Setra S 417s and a MCI D4505.
From its base in Omaha, the company operates in Kansas
City, Denver, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Luke Busskohl says
each market has its own equipment needs, and a mixed model
fleet provides a competitive advantage.
The Busskohl family founded Arrow Stage Lines in 1928.
The privately held charter company now ranks as the 9thlargest motorcoach company in North America.
10
April 2013
add
1
Cyr Bus
Old Town, ME
Cyr Bus enters its second century in business with the
delivery of one more Setra Top Class S 417. When Germanbuilt Setra made its U.S. debut, Cyr was its very first customer
and remains a devoted customer. Mike Cyr says the company
Setra put the company on the map. Cyr now operates four
Setra models in its 22-coach fleet.
Standard features on the Setra S 417 include GPS, Wi-Fi
connectivity and outlet; and the energy-absorbing Front
Collision Guard (FCG) system, advanced rain-sensing wipers
and auto-on headlight assistance for safety.
BUSRide
people in the news
Stephen R. Banta
The South
West Transit
Association
(SWTA), Ft.
Worth, TX, gave
its unanimous
member approval
members to name
Valley Metro
CEO Stephen R.
Banta as secretary/treasurer for
industry since 1998. From his base in
Las Vegas he will focus on expanding
First Transit shuttle services, including
university and airport services.
Double Coin Tires and CMA,
Monrovia, CA, announced the addition
of Valentino Faraone as Double Coin’s
Northeast regional sales manager. At
Michelin North America, Faraone estab-
lished and developed long-term partnerships and provided fleet personnel
training as value added services for the
transportation industry. Most recently,
Faraone was regional sales manager
for Action Tire Services. At Double
Coin, Faraone will be responsible for
sales and management in 11 Northeast
states.
the 2013 term.
The SWTA membership pointed to
his experience in leading a multi-modal,
multi-city organization. Banta will serve
on the executive committee and present
financial reports to the board and members. Also elected to the Board are Fort
Worth Transportation Authority Executive
Director Richard Ruddell as president
and Fort Smith Transit Director Ken
Savage as vice president.
Stertil-Koni,
Stevensville, MD,
announced Brian
Myles as its Sales
Manager, Eastern
Region. Myles
served previously
as a manufacturer’s representative for 18 years
with McIndoo
Brian Myles
Associates – a
leading automotive
and petroleum equipment representative.
Myes will be working with distributors and
focusing primarily on the sale of a line of
vehicle lift products.
Jeremy Brown
BUSRide
First Transit,
Cincinnati, OH,
announced the
appointment of
Jeremy Brown as
director of business development.
Brown has been
with First Transit
since 2002 and
has worked within
the transportation
April 2013
11
the international report
Alexander Dennis and New Flyer
to launch MiDi bus in May
Prototype to be unveiled at APTA Bus and Paratransit conference in Indianapolis, IN
By Doug Jack
Alexander Dennis (AD) is one of
the fastest growing bus builders in the
western world. Since Chief Executive
Officer Colin Robertson took the helm
in 2007, earnings have risen from $250
million in his first year to more than
$700 million last year. He has led the
company toward new product development, closer relationships with customers and dynamic expansion of its export
activities.
Alexander Dennis and New Flyer
have decided to brand their latest
joint venture as the MiDi bus. I was
impressed with the amount of work that
has already gone into the project. The
two companies are set to launch the
MiDi bus in May at the APTA Bus and
Paratransit conference in Indianapolis,
IN, as well as several other transit and
shuttle conferences in North America
throughout 2013.
I began by asking Robertson how it
all came about.
“Toward the end of 2010 we had a
management meeting,” he says. “We
were already supplying double deck
buses to North America and wanted to
sell our popular midibuses there as well.
We could either do it alone in fairly small
numbers or talk to the best potential
partner to achieve higher volumes.”
Early in 2011, Robertson and AD
Commercial Director Robert Davey flew
to Winnipeg, MB, Canada, to meet with
New Flyer President and CEO Paul
Soubry and Paul Smith, EVP sales and
marketing.
“We gave them a presentation about
our Enviro200 midibus range and found
that they had made their own strategic
review to consider the development
of a lighter bus range to complement
their heavy-duty transit buses,” says
Robertson. “We got on well and soon
decided that if New Flyer took on the
Enviro200 and built it in North America
we would achieve much higher potential
volumes and easily meet Buy-America
rules. For New Flyer the attraction of taking on a proven design was the opportunity to significantly reduce development
costs and the time to the market.”
New Flyer will offer the Enviro200 at
two overall lengths — 30 and 35 feet.
The Cummins ISBe 6.7 liter engine
meets EPA13 standards and couples to
the automatic Allison gearbox. DANA
supplies the front and rear axles.
Thermo King air conditioning is standard. All of these units are obtainable in
the United States.
The vehicle has a double-width
entrance ahead of the front axle with
a wheelchair ramp. Two wheelchair
locations immediately behind the front
wheelboxes feature tip-up seats when
the space is not required.
The floor in the front half of the
vehicle is 12 inches above the ground
and can kneel to curb level.
Alexander Dennis will deliver the
The Enviro200 is popular on rural routes as seen here in central Wales .
12
April 2013
BUSRide
fully built prototypes from the United
Kingdom. New Flyer will establish an
assembly line for MiDi buses in St
Cloud, MN, where the plan is to start
volume production in the fourth quarter
of this year.
Although AD has supplied buses in
kit form for assembly in Hong Kong and
more recently in New Zealand, the New
Flyer venture is quite different. Using
North American sources to supply the
materials and components not only
ensures the desired quality, but parts
and service support as well. However,
AD may have to initially supply some
parts from the UK.
Teams from New Flyer and AD are
working in parallel across design, production engineering, purchasing and
engineering support.
I asked Jennifer McNeill, AD director of sales and business development,
to explain the main challenges on the
project.
“Moving the steering wheel,” she
says. “The teams have been crosschecking regulations between European
requirements and Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. Therefore, although
the basic structure is pure Alexander
Dennis design, there are important
alterations like emergency windows,
U.S. standard external lighting and vertical roof-level exhaust discharge.”
Talking about how New Flyer plans
to position the MiDi bus in the North
The interior of an Enviro200 looking rearward.
American market, McNeil says this
product is quite different from the fullsize transit buses and cutaways. She
thinks some existing public customers will be attracted to the MiDi bus
because of its accessibility, manoeuvrability and fuel economy.
McNeil thinks the shorter vehicle
also has potential at larger airports
where van conversions shuttle between
hotels and terminals. Such is the case
at London Heathrow where Enviro200
buses now run on regular routes, serving several hotels on each journey.
McNeill says the New Flyer sales
team will promote the MiDi bus direct to
existing public transit authorities, with
selected dealers promoting the MiDi
bus with potential private customers.
Jennifer McNeill, AD director of sales
and business development, took the
wheel at the test circuit in Chobham.
BUSRide
She says that while the MiDi bus will
carry the New Flyer name, its promotion
would be quite different from the existing heavy-duty range.
After our meeting, we drove a few
miles north of Guildford to Chobham
to visit a major automotive test center
with high-speed circuits, rough road
surfaces and steep test gradients. We
boarded a prototype North American
Enviro200 carrying Alexander Dennis
and New Flyer staff and made a number
of circuits of the track.
The front axle has four-bag air suspension, compared with the standard
British specification of two bags and
that was a noticeable improvement.
The lively Cummins engine was audible
but not intrusive, while the shifts in
the Allison transmission were smooth.
Climbing a 20 percent test gradient
prompted one comedian in the group to
suggest the bus would sell well in San
Francisco.
The prototype MiDi we rode will soon
be shipped across the Atlantic to go
through an Altoona 10-year, 350,000mile test program. The decision to opt
for the 10-year test was to differentiate
the midibuses from heavy-duty transit
buses, although the Enviro200 is capable of a longer life than 10 years.
Midibuses have become very popular in the United Kingdom. Bus companies have many routes that do not
generate the numbers of passengers
needed for heavy-duty single deck or
double deck buses. In some cases,
midibuses provide services that are
April 2013
13
the international report
continued
more frequent. If passengers can rely
on a bus arriving every ten minutes
or less, they do not need a timetable.
Midibuses can also go into residential areas that are too restrictive
for full size buses, such as the London
suburbs. They often feed into the
underground rail network and serve
long-term parking facilities at our
main airports as well as hotels.
While initial price is still important
to bus companies over here, they are
increasingly focusing on whole-life
operating costs. This is where the
Enviro200 scores very well, using
premium components well supported
in the aftermarket.
The patented Alexander aluminium body construction has been
around for many years. It’s stood up to
very demanding operations, such as
around-the-clock service in 40-foot
double-deck buses in Hong Kong.
The structure is easy to repair and
fully recyclable at the end of life. The
two companies see great potential for
this new MiDi bus in North America,
built and backed by New Flyer through
proven service, support, spare parts,
training and warranty infrastructure.
The final word from Colin
Robertson: “If we can take 10 percent
of the cutaway market, we will be very
happy.” BR
Doug Jack is with Transport Resources in the
United Kingdom.
14
April 2013
BUSRide
Transit for the future under development with North American bus builders
NEW FLYER
Winnipeg, MB,
Canada
Consortium builds all-electric propulsion from Xcelsior
New Flyer Industries and its consortium partners
received CAD $3.4 million in funding through Sustainable
Development Technology Canada (SDTC) in 2012 to further
enhance rapid-charge battery-electric bus propulsion technology. The consortium partners contributing to this innovative vehicle include, the Government of Manitoba, Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), Manitoba Hydro, Red River
College and Winnipeg Transit.
The SDTC project involves the development and implementation of four rapid-charge battery-electric transit buses
and a high capacity charging station.
Based on its highly successful 40-foot Xcelsior heavyduty transit bus, New Flyer has modified battery-electric
prototype to integrate advanced lithium ion batteries from
MHI that charge from the utility electrical grid as opposed to
electrical power from a conventional diesel engine.
These buses are targeted for delivery to Winnipeg Transit
in 4Q 2013 for revenue service over a four-year period.
This project will examine the integration of electric vehicle
technology into transit service and evaluate key operational
performance characteristics including the charging system,
battery capacity, component life, reliability and the assessment of both operational and life cycle cost savings. BR
First to develop a prototype all-electric transit bus
In conjunction with its North American partners
and the Volvo Group, Nova Bus stepped up its Electro
Mobility strategy in 2011 to develop a fully electric
transit bus. Unveiled in 2011, Nova Bus lays claim to
being the first established bus maker to present such a
prototype all-electric vehicle.
The Quebec government is investing $30 million in
the $73-million public-private project to develop electric buses for the international public transit market.
According to a statement from Quebec Premier, the
intent of funding is to become an innovation leader in
the burgeoning global electric-vehicle industry.
Along with Nova Bus, the non-profit organization,
Consortium Bus Électrique, a clutch of Quebec companies includes lithium battery firm Bathium Canada;
electric vehicle component maker TM4; software firm
Giro, manufacturing firm René Matériaux Composites;
and engineering company Précicad. The goal is to put
a demo vehicle in service in coming years.
16
April 2013
NOVA BUS
St. Eustache
QB, Canada
BUSRide
EcoRideâ&#x201E;˘ BE35 battery-electric bus passes Altoona
Proterra specializes in
the manufacture of 100 percent battery-electric zeroemission commercial transit
buses, with more than 80
percent of the components
sourced within the United
States from 33 states.
Proterra, Inc. recently added
San Antonio, TX to its list of
service cities. The new threebus battery-electric fleet,
the Arc, went into service in
February. The company says
its 35-ft EcoRideâ&#x201E;˘ BE35
made of lightweight composite materials is the first heavyduty electric transit bus ever
to pass Altoona bus testing
conducted through the Larson Institute at Pennsylvania
State University. The Federal Transit Administration mandates an analysis of all new model buses purchased with
federal funds to ensure reliability and in-service perfor-
DESIGNLINE
Charlotte, NC
BUSRide
PROTERRA
Greenville, SC
mance. The Altoona test simulates the use and strain a bus
will undergo during its 12-year durable life cycle. Proterra says
the 54-72 kWh lithium-titanate battery packs recharge in less
than 10 minutes.
Eco-Smart 1 delivers 120 miles on a single charge
DesignLine, a manufacturer of environmentallyfriendly transit buses, unveiled its first all-electric
bus in 2007. The Eco-Smart 1 is completely emission free and light on maintenance. The company
reports its electric bus is capable of operating up
to 120 miles on a single charge under high-density,
stop-and-go, urban transit route conditions.
The Eco-Smart 1 incorporates the same drivetrain and other key configurations as the hybridelectric EcoSaver. The company notes the primary
technical difference between the electric bus and
the EcoSaver IV is the replacement of the auxiliary
power unit (APU) with additional battery packs.
DesignLine says while the purchase price is
approximately $600,000 to $700,000 higher than
a comparably-equipped standard diesel bus, it
does promise a 10 percent savings in fuel costs
and certain other operating costs over the life of
the vehicle.
April 2013
17
FOOTHILL
TRANSIT
West Covina, CA
Ecoliners seamlessly integrate for full service
Foothill Transit sees great success from its zero-emission buses
By Richard Tackett
Three Proterra 35-foot EcoRide
BE35s, dubbed the Ecoliners by Foothill
Transit, West Covina, CA, have been
running a busy route in the San Gabriel
and Pomona Valleys since September
2010. It was Proterra’s first major
deployment of the zero-emission bus.
Felicia Friesema, marketing and
communications manager at Foothill
Transit, says that fuel savings and air
quality had a lot to do with the agency’s
order.
“The agency was looking for new
technology, but it had to make sense,”
she says. “When this technology presented itself, it presented a great way
to test the viability of electric vehicles.”
The buses currently service Line
291, which Friesema says is a heavyduty route that includes a hospital,
a few schools and a major shopping
center. She says the agency chose
this line because it would showcase
the vehicles’ durability and charging
power. While feedback has been positive, Friesema says the agency’s goal
is seamless integration. The best case
scenario is that customers hardly notice
what they’re riding.
“We did initially receive positive
feedback, but it fit very seamlessly into
our system,” she says. “Most of the time
when we hear from customers, it isn’t
because we’re doing a great job. There
haven’t been any major complaints
about the Ecoliner. The compliments we
did receive were about how it looks. It
has a more modern and advanced shell
design. It’s really quite an interesting
look. It provides more positive visibility
for public transportation in our neighborhoods.”
Green on the street
The bus requires a 10 minute charge
at a transit center’s docking station
before it’s ready to run for a full 24
hours. Friesema says that the first and
sometimes only thing customers notice
is how quiet the bus is.
“The loudest thing on board is the
air conditioner,” she says. “We were
hoping to seamlessly integrate it into
our regular service without a customer
really noticing any difference in quality.
That has been a success so far. As long
as people are getting the same quality
of service they’ve always received, it’s
a success.”
The city is seeing benefits from
the environmentally-friendly aspects of
the vehicle. This is a bonus for Foothill
Transit, as a California regulation in
2012 began requiring large agencies
to purchase 15 percent of annual bus
orders as zero emission buses.
“The bonus to the city is we reduce
local pollution by having a zero-emission transit vehicle,” Friesema says.
“Plus we end up saving money on fuel
costs.”
Lauren Festner, director of maintenance and vehicle technology for
Foothill Transit, says that Foothill’s fuel
economy has improved with major costsavings thanks to the Ecoliner buses.
“The easiest way to compare the
‘fuel economy’ of an electric bus to
a conventionally- fueled vehicle is in
standard miles per gallon (MPG),”
Festner says. “By comparison, our
CNG fleet averages 3.5 MPG (Diesel
Gallon Equivalent) and our Electric
buses average about 18 MPG.”
Aside from fuel savings, maintenance costs are also way down for the
vehicles.
“We’re paying less in fuel, but also
in maintenance,” Friesema says. “There
are fewer moving parts in the electric
motor, so we’re seeing that the cost for
maintaining the bus is lower than that of
a conventional vehicle.”
More vehicles ahead
The Proterra EcoRide BE35 was
dubbed the Ecoliner by Foothill Transit.
18
April 2013
Friesema says that Foothill Transit
is preparing the procurement process
for an additional nine vehicles. After
testing the Ecoliner buses on Line 291,
she says the agency is keen to continue
improving service on that route.
“Putting the buses on that line really
tested the technology,” she says. “We’d
like to fully electrify Line 291, and hopefully we can do just that.” BR
BUSRide
BUSRide
April 2013
19
VIA adds three
EcoRides to fleet
The Proterra-made battery-electric bus fleet began service in late February
Proterra
Inc.,
maker of the world’s
first battery-electric
fast-charge transit
bus, the EcoRide, has
added San Antonio, TX,
to the list of cities currently operating its
buses. San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan’s
Proterra-made 100 percent battery-electric bus fleet, called the Arc, went into
service in late February.
The three composite body buses will
operate on VIA’s downtown circulator
routes, and they will be recharged at
the Robert Thompson Transit Station at
the Alamodome. As the batteries are
charged, they will receive energy that is
generated either by solar panels installed
VIA METRO
San Antonio, TX
20
April 2013
as part of the project or by turbines in
West Texas wind farms as part of VIA’s
Windtricity agreement with CPS Energy.
���VIA is excited to have the opportunity
to bring electric buses to San Antonio,”
said Jeffrey Arndt, VIA’s interim president
and CEO. “The Arc service marks a first
for VIA as we introduce a completely
emissions-free way to provide transit service to the central business district.”
Proterra executives have worked
closely with VIA Metropolitan and the San
Antonio community on this new electric
bus project, and Proterra’s CEO David
Bennett and Vice President of Sales and
Marketing Ian Shackleton attended the
official launch ceremony on Tuesday,
February 26.
“As the cleanest, most fuel efficient
and lowest total cost of ownership option
in the transit market, Proterra’s batteryelectric buses are the natural choice
for transit agencies struggling to balance budget constraints, ever-increasing
fuel costs and mounting sustainability
pressures,” said David Bennett. “We are
thrilled to see our buses go into service
in another community and proud to have
worked closely with VIA Metropolitan to
take this critical step forward. We look
forward to having our buses in service
there for many years to come and to pointing to San Antonio’s success to lead other
agencies to take similar steps toward the
future of transit.” BR
BUSRide
The family business turns 80
What Peter Pan Bus Lines is doing to stay ahead of the curve
By David Hubbard
Peter Carmine Picknelly started with a
small transit operation in East Orange, NJ
in 1920 and eventually founded Peter Pan
Bus Lines in 1933. No guessing about
the name, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie was
the favorite bedtime story of the Picknelly
children, who grew — and are growing
— to keep the dream and the family business growing successfully through four
generations for 80 years.
Upon his death in 1964, he left the
company to his son Peter L. Picknelly. He
opened the Springfield Bus Terminal, current headquarters of Peter Pan Bus Lines,
and his son Peter A. Picknelly serves as
chairman and CEO.
President and CFO Brian Stefano
began his career with Peter Pan Bus
Lines as a controller 23 years ago and
served as chief financial officer. Last year
22
April 2013
the company promoted him to president
and CEO, the first time in the 80-year
history that someone from outside the
Picknelly family has served as president.
BUSRide spoke with the principals,
who also include Joe Picknally, director,
inventory control and fleet maintenance,
and Christopher Crean, vice president,
safety and security, on the state-of-thecompany and how Peter Pan remains a
vibrant industry leader.
Fleet operations and services
Peter Pan Bus Lines runs an all-MCI
fleet of 200 modern motorcoaches. The
relationship between Peter Pan and Motor
Coach Industries (MCI), Schaumburg, IL,
an 80-year old company as well, dates
back to the 1970s.
As a partner with Greyhound since
1998, the two companies launched
BoltBus in 2007 with 85 Prevost X3-45s.
Northeast Express came four years later,
a first class bus service with guaranteed
seating, custom coaches with specially
designed interiors and special guest services in private waiting areas in the terminals.
This past December, Peter Pan and
Greyhound took a lesson from the street
corner operators to introduce YO!, a
Chinatown-to-Chinatown service operating out of New York City.
“These operators showed us a niche
that needed to be filled, but they went
about it so poorly, with no regard for
safety,” says Peter Picknelly. “YO! applies
the model correctly. We offer modern
coaches and remove the chaos from the
curbside experience. Customers can buy
BUSRide
a ticket online and board in groups of 10
in an orderly manner.”
Brian Stefano says obtaining a permit
for curbside service has become more
stringent.
“We worked over a year to secure
our curbside location for YO!,” he says.
“That is probably not bad in the long run.
It was getting out of hand with so many
shadowy carriers not properly permitted.”
Peter Pan is using web-based technology to analyze customer demands
and equipment needs in real time and
implementing dynamic pricing.
“For instance, a few years ago we
left ourselves open to provide unlimited
seating at one price,” says Picknelly. “We
have since moved from one regulated
price into internet-based yield management.”
Stefano adds that Peter Pan is operating much more like an airline, where the
price of a seat can fluctuate with every
trip by the day by the hour. He attributes
the success to smart shoppers who purchase tickets well in advance.
“But not every area is the same,” he
BUSRide
says. “While the Boston internet market
is strong, Philadelphia still caters primarily to walk-up customers who pay at the
counter. Our policy is to let the customer
tell us how they want to buy, and we
accommodate their preferences.”
Safety and security
Christopher Crean attests to the
power of the internet in the search for
the most qualified individuals to hire as
Peter Pan coach drivers, saying the new
system actually delivers higher quality
candidates.
The process begins with an onlineonly employee character analysis and
initial testing.
“We make our selections and invite
them in for a face-to-face interview,” says
Crean. “Those who score high and make
it through the interview enter our training
program.”
He says the initial screening eliminates
those with only the mechanical skills and
who are unfamiliar with the technology
required in modern bus operations.
The interview is more personal. The
conversation assesses the candidate’s
comfort level and preferences such as
availability for work weekend work and
holidays, and typical reactions in stressful
situations — traffic congestion, schedule
delays and irritable and irate passengers.
“Our HR professionals have been conducting these interviews for a long time,”
says Crean. “Anyone can put on a good
show, but my team knows what questions
to ask a candidate to draw out the true
response and present the most accurate
profile.”
Crean says Peter Pan drivers come
from all walks of life. Some have years of
driving experience, some have none.
“We can teach the requisite driving
skills, but we are looking for the individual
with the potential to become a professional Peter Pan motorcoach operator,”
he says. “That person is a quality individual who is not only the safest driver
possible, but also an affable tour host,
parent and psychologist who can do it all
with a smile.”
April 2013
23
Peter C. Picknelly (founder)
Peter Pan
Peter A. Picknelly
continued
Training for Peter Pan
The six to eight-week Peter Pan performance-based driver training program
prepares drivers to for all conditions and
circumstances, and thoroughly verses
them on the rules and regulations for
passenger carriers and public roadways.
“We operate in a generation that
relies heavily on technology such as
GPS,” says Crean. “We train our drivers
not to become too dependent and to do
their own homework on the routes they
travel. We want Peter Pan drivers to
know all the landmarks and to be especially aware of all clearance restrictions
such as bridges and tunnels. The old
fashioned way will always work.”
“Problems arise when they fall into
bad habits or the habits of others,” he
adds. “Then we have to work to correct
them.”
Crean
says
the
FMCSA’s
Compliance, Safety and Accountability
(CSA) system has changed everything.
“What was acceptable five years ago
is no longer,” he says. “No variance, no
tolerance. Every aspect of an operation
is now coming under greater scrutiny”
He says the company is updating its
onboard surveillance with the installation
of six-camera systems on each of the
200 Peter Pan coaches by the end of
this year.
MCI maintenance training
“As everyone knows, motorcoaches
has evolved into more of a process
of electronic diagnosis as opposed to
mechanical,” says Joe Picknally. “Our
mechanics and technicians must show
their commitment learning and relearn-
24
April 2013
Brian Stefano
ing new technologies through continuous
training and education.”
Peter Pan will be sending five of its top
mechanics to the MCI Technical Training
Institute in Louisville, KY.
“MCI is able to teach and train in
areas our mechanics can’t get anywhere
else,” says Picknally. “They will come
back as our ‘super trainers’ to share what
they learned with the rest of the crew in
the six Peter Pan maintenance locations.”
Social media in play
The power of social media is not lost
on Peter Pan. Case in point: the drivers,
who in Picknelly’s mind are the most
important people in the company.
“The number one compliment we
receive on Facebook, Twitter and our
website concerns our drivers,” he says.
“The number one complaint is for our
drivers. It shows how important they are
in the mind of the customer.”
Peter Pan marketing and HR monitor
all social media sites daily and respond,
taking action in real time when a situation
needs immediate attention.
“Every senior manager receives a
weekly social media report revealing the
good, bad and ugly,” says Picknelly. “They
use the comments to gauge trends positively or negatively and shore up customer relations. Social media is a powerful
indicator if used properly. If a business is
not on top of this phenomenon, it can sink
the company.”
Future just ahead
Picknelly says the focus is just ahead
at what Peter Pan is doing at this time.
“Our company is perfectly sized for
our geographic location,” he says. “There
is so much opportunity in our current footprint. We will simply continue to refine our
efforts and see where they take us.” BR
BUSRide
From a Buick Jitney to its lasting partner
in MCI, the Peter Pan fleet features recently updated 2013 J4500s.
How the Picknellys’ passion became their legacy
Peter Carmine Picknelly found his passion for commercial
transportation in the early 1900s as a chauffeur. By 1920, he
was in business for himself running a Buick Jitney as Orange
Valley Bus Company in East Orange, NJ. Five years later,
Peter and three other Jitney operators pooled their resources
and relocated to Hartford, CT to start a larger transportation
service, Interstate Buses Corporation.
He sold his interest in the company to his partners in 1932
and again formed his own bus company, which opened in
1933 in Springfield, MA as Peter Pan Bus Lines with a handsome fleet of four 1933 Buick Jitney vehicles.
26
April 2013
Peter Pan’s first route, Northampton to Boston via
Stafford Springs, CT, was a circuitous route that took over
three hours with a round trip fare of $3.50
In January of 1964, founder Peter C. Picknelly died leaving the company to his 33-year old son, Peter Louis Picknelly.
Peter Pan Bus Lines grew and thrived over the next
several years, due in part to the 1964-1965 staging of the
World’s Fair in New York City, NY, which the company served
dutifully with all-expenses-included charter tours from
western Massachusetts and Connecticut through its newly
formed Peter Pan World Travel Service.
BUSRide
risk management
A mistake
fuels a remedy
By Matthew A. Daecher
As children we learn from our mistakes
when our parents scold us or an otherwise
undesirable outcome presents itself. It is the
same for adults. We are just more aware that
an undesirable outcome may occur if we act
in certain ways or follow a specific course
of action.
Learning from mistakes is time-proven
and certainly beneficial if the undesirable
outcome alters our behavior. It is a concept
incorporated into both basic and advanced
safety programs. In the most basic safety programs, the simplest compliance with
BUSRide
regulatory requirements can reduce errors
that cause poor results. Any safety training
program is no doubt designed and shaped
by an effort to correct previous experiences
and mistakes. In more advanced safety
programs that utilize technology such as
accident event recorders, companies use the
data to identify mistakes and correct them.
Most commercial carriers are pretty good
at figuring out their mistakes because they
have to deal with the consequences, whether it resulted in vehicle damage, a thirdparty claim, injury treatment costs, worker
April 2013
27
risk management
continued
compensation claim, or lost employee
productivity. Actually learning from the
mistake, however, is sometimes an
afterthought. Sometimes an operator
chalks up an accident to an unusual
circumstance and may assume that the
driver or employee would know what to
do differently next time.
A thorough investigation and analysis of an incident reveals what led up
to the incident, what happened during
the incident and what happened afterwards. Reviewing all of these timelines
with an open mind to all of the causal
factors may help shed light on more
than one area where changes may
be made to reduce the effect of future
occurrences.
U.S. Senator and acclaimed comedian Al Franken wrote:
Mistakes are a part of being human.
Appreciate your mistakes for what they
are: precious life lessons that can only
be learned the hard way. Unless it’s a
fatal mistake, which, at least, others can
learn from.
This phrase is comical so long as
you are not at the wrong end of the fatal
mistake. It is also very true. While the
seriousness of a fatal event is more
likely to cause intense investigation, it
should not be the only impetus for such
an investigation.
The final step in learning from mistakes is sharing what we’ve learned.
Often management will explain all that
went wrong to the person involved,
especially if that person’s actions were
a causal factor. The opportunity is often
missed to review these same teaching
points with other employees who may
one day find themselves in similar circumstances.
Going back to Senator Franken, we
also sometimes have the opportunity
to learn from serious mistakes of others. While we may not be privy to the
relatively minor incidents by our peers,
or even those with serious injuries, we
sure are privy to the fatal accidents that
receive plenty of press these days —
particularly incidents involving government investigations.
When this occurs, companies learn
of the causal factors and have the
opportunity to review both their practices in similar areas as well as the
knowledge base of their employees.
They can make adjustments to try to
avert a similar occurrence within their
operations, but many simply read these
items and thank higher ups that it wasn’t
them. What does your company do? BR
Matthew A. Daecher is president and CEO of Daecher Consulting Group, Inc., Camp Hills, PA.
28
April 2013
BUSRide
In the Months Ahead:
Church Executive Magazine
p r e s e n t s :
As part of the 3-part â&#x20AC;&#x153;Summer Safety Seriesâ&#x20AC;? BUSRide focuses on special
interest topics for well-informed transit and motorcoach operators:
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
Driver and Passenger Safety
Vehicular Safety Technology
Safety Training and Compliance
Editorial highlights restraints,
surveillance, bus stop safety, better
driver behavior and safe practices
in order to showcase what your
business needs to protect drivers
and passengers.
We address key bus and
motorcoach safety features
including onboard monitoring
technology, fire suppression
systems, electronic stability
control and more.
We review the need for proper
training and compliance when it
comes to keeping passengers safe,
as well as new mandates from
regulatory agencies that are of the
utmost importance to maintaining a
legal carrier business.
If you would like to advertise your products or services
in these targeted issues, please contact Sali T. Williams
at 1-800-541-2670 Ext 209 or email swilliams@busride.com
BUSRide
H0413BR
SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
busride.com
April 2013
29
ElDorado National Kansas fine tunes its new luxury flagship
By David Hubbard
ElDorado National Kansas, Inc.,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Thor
Industries, now based in Elkhart, IN, had
in mind for quite some time to round
out its product offering. The goal was to
develop or secure a high-end retail unit
that would complement the company’s
core commercial and transit bus products:
the Aerolite, Aerotech, Aero Elite and
Advantage lines. The company learned
late last year that the bus division assets
of limousine manufacturer Krystal
Enterprises were available for purchase.
Founded and headquartered in
Orange County, CA, Krystal Enterprises
had developed its stylish luxury flagship,
the Krystal Koach. In 2010 the company
moved all its production to Mexicali, Baja,
Mexico, where it was turning out 10 to
20 Krystal Koach buses per month. This
continued until it closed the production
line in June 2012.
Once the sale closed, Thor Industries
moved quickly to acquire the Krystal
Koach brand and assets for $3.9 million in
cash, and ElDorado National immediately
relocated the production plant from
Mexicali to its headquarters in Salina, KS.
“Once the determination was made
to buy the Krystal assets, we saw it as
the perfect opportunity for us to establish
this model as the high-end luxury product
line for this company,” says ElDorado
Kansas President Jeff Montgomery.
“With our acquisition, we take pride in
announcing that Krystal is once again
Made in America.”
30
April 2013
The transaction and relocation required
far more than moving physical property.
According to Montgomery, it meant a
total inundation for ElDorado National to
become oriented with its new brand.
The company invited John MacKinney,
former Krystal sales manager, to join
in the move. Thoroughly versed on the
vehicle, he is now on board with ElDorado
National in the same capacity. ElDorado
also contracted with Greg Beck, the
former head of engineering, to come out
to Salina and help with the transition to
a new production line. Dan Heintzman,
Krystal’s bus purchasing agent of over 15
years, also made the cross-country move
to add material stability to the new line.
“We wanted to first ensure we would
be building the same bus, not allowing it to
morph into something completely different
than we purchased,” says Montgomery. “To
do that we had to be sure we purchased
the same materials, components and
parts that Krystal Enterprises was using
before. Only then we could move forward
with any determinations as to the changes
ElDorado might want to consider.”
Former product manager Rob Jasper
had worked in the Krystal bus division for
10 years, overseeing the inception and full
life of the Krystal Koach. He came out to
Salina for a week to help the new owners
to build the bus the way Krystal first built it
at the Orange County, CA, facility.
“Once we were able to achieve that
with the help of their consultations, we
could move ahead with our own subtle
changes,” says Montgomery. “We want
to clearly demonstrate to operators that
ElDorado is building to the same high
quality standards that operators had come
to expect from the Krystal brand.”
ElDorado says that rather than build
the Krystal on its existing production line,
The Krystal Koach will target the luxury shuttle market.
BUSRide
The Krystal Koach is
now the luxury model for
ElDorado National.
it has elected to dedicate an independent
line that shares only three stations with
the Aerotech and Advantage brands.
“We needed to create a slower moving
Krystal line in order to keep the Aerotech
and Advantage lines flowing smoothly,”
says MacKinney. “This arrangement
accommodates the additional labor and
building time necessary to maintain the
fit and finish and the quality and design
synonymous with the Krystal Koach
brand.”
ElDorado National has provided
its own enhancements. Namely, the
company incorporated its own transitproven heavy-duty electrical system
that provides more consistency than
before. ElDorado National says it also
provides unique opportunities to service
the product through Thor’s vendor
resources, continuous parts availability,
and manufacturing efficiencies.
“What Thor Industries and ElDorado
National bring to the table in this
transaction is our capability to partner
with so many vendors and suppliers in
the bus market and certify installations,”
says Montgomery. “Now the aftermarket
support for the Krystal Koach is stronger
because our vendors and dealer network
not only work with supplying the parts
but are working with us on the service of
those parts after the sale.”
With the acquisition, ElDorado
National is able to make Krystal parts
more available to operators than had been
over the last few years.
BUSRide
“We also are carrying many parts for
older Krystal buses,” says MacKinney.
“Operators who have had difficulties
maintaining their Krystal buses should find
that, because of parts availability at the
factory and with their local dealer support,
the overall serviceability of Krystal buses
will improve.”
Local support is yet another major
improvement in the brand. Before Krystal
buses were mainly purchased direct from
the factory or through a few regional
representatives on the East Coast.
“Factory direct sales offer a few
shortsighted advantages,” MacKinney
says, “but by distributing nationally solely
through our dealer network, Krystal
operators will experience the benefits
of dealing with a locally operated dealer
that can offer 100 percent sales, finance,
service and warranty, and parts supply.”
In fact, according to Montgomery,
ElDorado National has what it feels is
one of the stronger dealer networks in the
industry.
“To start off, we are convinced Krystal
owners will receive better service because
they are not dealing with everything
coming out of one location,” he says.
“They will have much more local support”
Additionally, Montgomery credits
the Krystal Koach for bringing a great
number of limo companies into the bus
business beginning in the 1990s, and
again during the past recession when
many limousine operators were beginning
to realize the shortcomings of a strictly
stretch limousine service. He says
because of shifts in perceptions for group
transportation, small to midsize buses
and even motorcoaches in some cases
have played a larger role in corporate and
special occasion transportation usually
afforded to limousines.
“Because of this shift in the industry,
we are starting to see more executive
style minibuses being produced,” says
Montgomery. “The new look is more
businesslike and luxurious. The limousine
industry has driven this evolution to a
higher-end product. Not everyone is
ordering Tower blue fabrics for their buses.
Instead it’s now black exterior buses
with seamless windows and simulated
hardwood flooring, leather and leatherette
seating in the interior.”
“We have also seen a shift in group
travel needs with many tours operators
booking only 25 to35 seats,” MacKinney
added. “Coach operators have told us that
is too few passengers to operate a large
motorcoach, so they have expanded into
the luxury shuttle market to accommodate
this market.”
ElDorado National Kansas currently
has new Krystal shuttle buses rolling
down the assembly line that will begin
arriving to dealers in the very near future.
However, the company says the Krystal LS
limousine style buses will take a bit longer
to develop. It hopes to debut a limousine
interior at the Atlantic City limousine show
in October. BR
April 2013
31
tour business
The only choice
in the central U.S.
Cavallo Bus Lines’ safety and service
attracts an international tour market
By Richard Tackett
Europeans and domestic group tours will not accept coaches
older than three years. In fact, they even stipulate 110-volt
outlets and Wi-Fi on board.”
He says European and international tour operators doing
business out of Chicago credit the drivers for and the central
U.S. location for choosing Cavallo Bus Lines.
“In-bound travelers typically gravitate towards the east
and west coasts,” says Cavallo. “However, we have been seeing a steady increase of tours visiting throughout the Midwest
from Chicago to New Orleans, and along the old historic
Route 66. That’s something different for this market.”
The all-MCI Cavallo fleet stands at 94 and features both
E4500 and J4500 coaches, none older than 10 years. Cavallo
says that based on the replacement history, his company
Cavallos Bus Lines serves a host of international tour
market from its base in Gillespie, IL, a downstate Illinois community 50 miles north of St. Louis with a population fewer than
3,500. According to Cavallo President Larry Cavallo, many
of the world’s most distinguished global tour operators such
as Globus and leading tour operators in Europe book coach
tours throughout the central United States exclusively with his
70-year old company.
Cavallo says it has everything to do with his mirroring the
European experience. Cavallo describes his basic business
strategy as following preferences rather than trying to create
demand.
“We run a modern coach fleet, maintain a spotless safety
record and our staff is dedicated to delivering quality customer
service,” says Cavallo. “Upscale tour companies catering to
32
April 2013
BUSRide
expects to be operating completely emissions-free fleet by
2020.
Paul Cavallo founded the company in 1942 for trucking
coal miners in Macoupin County. At the outbreak of World
War II, he contracted to establish a 40-mile route to drive
women war workers in school buses to and from an ammunition factory servicing three shifts a day. The women paid for
the transportation using their fuel ration cards, which paid
for the fuel. Cavallo eventually developed a daily bus route
for workers at the Illinois state capitol in Springfield with a
$.66 round trip. This 100-mile round-trip continues at a stillreasonable $7.20 fare.
“The primary reason Cavallo Bus Lines attracts international tour packagers has to do with our consistently top rat-
ings in government compliance audits,” says Cavallo. “We’re
always looking for ways to improve passenger safety, and
we’re not afraid to invest in anything that make our coaches
more reliable.”
The all-MCI fleet stands at 94 E4500 and J4500 coaches,
none older than 10 years. The most recent delivery came in
December 2012. Each coach is equipped with Drive Cam and
has cell phone capability.
The company also transports many professional sports
teams, most recently adding the St. Louis Rams to the client
list. Cavallo Bus Lines continues to grow its business attracting
fly-in tour entertainers and playbill performances out on tour,
such as the Les Miserables touring company. BR
International tour operators appreciate the
Cavallo safety record and a handsome fleet.
PARTS
•
MARKETPLACE
•
BUSRide
April 2013
33
• M A RK E T PL ACE • M A RK E T PL ACE • M A RK E T PL ACE •
EQUIPMENT
34
April 2013
SHELTERS
BUSES FOR SALE
PARTS
BUSRide
We at Pace Suburban Bus, Arlington Heights, IL,
have worked hard to size our fleet to the levels of demand
and the operating environment of the areas we serve.
Our success is due to diligence at identifying rider
needs and allocating the proper resources to fulfill those
needs. Pace was extremely pleased for the Mid-Size Bus
Manufacturers Association (MSBMA) to have recognized
our transit agency during BusCon 2012 for operating the
nation’s largest fleet of small buses under 40 feet.
Pace began operations in 1984 after the Illinois State
Legislature called for the conglomeration of several independent, disparate bus agencies operating throughout
the Chicago suburbs. The prevailing logic at that time
was to apply urban transit methodology, which meant the
exclusive use of 40-foot buses. These served us very well
for many years. However in a service area comprising
urban, suburban, exurban and even rural environments,
we needed to develop innovative solutions that involved
smaller vehicles.
We began Pace dial-a-ride operations before they
were required by the Americans with Disabilities Act
Peter Carmine Picknelly
founded a small transit operation in East Orange, NJ in
1920. His successive ventures led to the creation of
Peter Pan Bus Lines in 1933,
launched with four 1933 Buick
jitney vehicles. No guessing
about the name, Peter Pan by
J.M. Barrie was the favorite
bedtime story of the Picknelly
children, who grew — and are
growing — to keep the dream
and the family business growing successfully through four
generations for 80 years.
The founder passed away
in 1964 leaving the company’s
helm to his 33-year old son,
Peter L. Picknelly, who opened
BUSRide
the Springfield Bus Terminal,
current headquarters of Peter
Pan Bus Lines. Today, his son,
Peter A. Picknelly serves as
Chairman and CEO.
President and CFO Brian
Stefano began his career with
Peter Pan Bus Lines as a controller 23 years ago and served
as chief financial officer. Last
year the company promoted
him to president and CEO, the
first time in the 80-year history
that someone from outside the
Picknelly family has served as
president.
BUSRide spoke with the
principals, who also include
Joe Picknally, director, inventory control and fleet main-
April 2013
35